THE coastal province of Shandong in eastern China is home to Shandong Luneng, currently the defending champion in the national soccer league; to Shandong Bangzi, a popular form of Beijing Opera; and to Tsingtao Beer, originating from the city ??of Qingdao and famous the world over. It is also home to Shandong cuisine, known as shandongcai (山东菜) or lucai (鲁菜) in Chinese, which is one of the “Eight Culinary Traditions” of China.The cuisine, known for its wide variety of ingredients and cooking methods, mainly two styles: Jinan style from the inland, which encompasses dishes from Jinan, Dezhou, Tai'an and surrounding regions and is famous for its soup; and Jiaodong style, which encompasses dishes from Qingdao, Yantai and other coastal cities, and is characterized by seafood and light flavors.